What Does Job Advancement Look Like for an Office Manager?
Navigating the career landscape as an office manager offers various paths for advancement. From exploring diverse management roles to shifting into facilities management, we've gathered six insightful perspectives, including those from an Office Manager and a Business Development Manager, to illuminate the opportunities that lie ahead.
- Explore Diverse Management Roles
- Advance to Affiliate or Business Development
- Consider Business Support or COO Positions
- Transition to Operations Management
- Progress to Higher Administrative Roles
- Shift to Facilities Management
Explore Diverse Management Roles
Beyond office management, roles in project management, human resources (HR), and operations management will leverage your vast variety of skills and offer exciting opportunities in various industries. As an office manager, embracing new responsibilities can lead to significant career growth. By becoming a subject-matter expert and a firm-wide resource, you position yourself for long-term success. Additionally, understanding your team's goals and aspirations allows you to delegate effectively, fostering both your own advancement and that of your team members.
Advance to Affiliate or Business Development
Office managers can level up by becoming Affiliate Managers or entering Business Development. As Affiliate Managers, they'll work closely with partners, plan promotions, and fine-tune affiliate programs. In Business Development, they'll scout and secure new advertisers, helping to expand the business. Both roles leverage their existing skills in organization and communication, offering fresh challenges and growth opportunities.
Consider Business Support or COO Positions
People who have gained experience as office managers, in my experience, make great candidates to consider for Business Support Managers and even some Chief Operating Officer roles. Typically, office managers have a similar workload across legal, estates, HR, and other functions, and having hands-on experience at the office manager level tends to suit candidates well when advancing into these roles.
Transition to Operations Management
As the founder of a legal process outsourcing company, I've witnessed several career advancement opportunities for office managers that extend beyond traditional roles. One notable example is the transition into operations management, where effective office managers can leverage their organizational skills and leadership experience to oversee broader aspects of company operations.
For instance, we had an exceptional office manager who, due to her strong performance in streamlining administrative processes and fostering a productive office environment, was promoted to oversee client relations and project management.
Her ability to understand both the operational needs of our clients and the internal workings of our organization made her a valuable asset in driving overall business growth.
This transition not only elevated her career but also contributed significantly to our company's efficiency and client satisfaction. Such advancements highlight the potential for office managers to grow into strategic roles that impact organizational success on a larger scale.
Progress to Higher Administrative Roles
As an Office Manager with over 20 years of experience, I've seen many career advancement opportunities. The role naturally progresses to Office Administrator, then to Office Coordinator or Director. From there, the options continue to Director of Operations or VP of Administration. These roles come with increased responsibilities, including hiring, mentoring, and managing more junior staff.
Personally, I started as an Office Assistant and worked my way up to CEO of my own company, OneStop Northwest. Along the way, I gained valuable skills in leadership, strategic planning, budget management, and business development. For those looking to advance, I highly recommend developing expertise in areas like project management, digital solutions, and risk mitigation. Becoming indispensable to your organization is key.
Continuously expand your skills and take on more responsibility. When an opening appears, make your case for a promotion based on your proven track record. You might have to change companies to find new opportunities, so build your network and keep an open mind. Career growth often means adapting to change, so stay flexible and willing to learn. With hard work and perseverance, an Office Manager role can be a stepping-stone to bigger things.
Shift to Facilities Management
One unique career advancement opportunity that often goes overlooked is transitioning into facilities management. This move can be a natural progression since both roles require a strong foundation in organizational skills and an understanding of operational logistics. In facilities management, you expand your responsibilities to include overseeing the physical environment of the workplace—everything from space planning and maintenance to health and safety compliance.
By leveraging your experience as an office manager and further developing your knowledge in building operations and strategic planning, you can position yourself as a key player in ensuring that the workspace not only runs efficiently but also contributes to the company's overall goals. This step not only broadens your career path but also elevates your expertise to a more strategic level, potentially opening doors to higher management roles within larger organizations.
